The Stilbene Synthase Family in Arachis: A Genome-Wide Study and Functional Characterization in Response to Stress.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and its wild relatives are among the few species that naturally synthesize resveratrol, a well-known stilbenoid phytoalexin that plays a crucial role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Resveratrol has received considerable attention due to its health benefits, such as preventing and treating various human diseases and disorders. Chalcone (CHS) and Stilbene (STS) Synthases are plant-specific type III Polyketide Synthases (PKSs) that share the same substrates and are key branch enzymes in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and stilbenoids, respectively. Although resveratrol accumulation in response to external stimulus has been described in peanut, there are no comprehensive studies of the CHS and STS gene families in the genus Arachis. In the present study, we identified and characterized 6 CHS and 46 STS genes in the tetraploid peanut and an average of 4 CHS and 22 STS genes in three diploid wild species (Arachis duranensis, Arachis ipaënsis and Arachis stenosperma). The CHS and STS gene and protein structures, chromosomal distributions, phylogenetic relationships, conserved amino acid domains, and cis-acting elements in the promoter regions were described for all Arachis species studied. Based on gene expression patterns of wild A. stenosperma STS genes in response to different biotic and abiotic stresses, we selected the candidate AsSTS4 gene, which is strongly induced by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, for further functional investigation. The AsSTS4 overexpression in peanut hairy roots significantly reduced (47%) root-knot nematode infection, confirming that stilbene synthesis activation in transgenic plants can increase resistance to pathogens. These findings contribute to understanding the role of resveratrol in stress responses in Arachis species and provide the basis for genetic engineering for improved production of valuable secondary metabolites in plants.

An ex vitro hairy root system from petioles of detached soybean leaves for in planta screening of target genes and CRISPR strategies associated with nematode bioassays.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The ex vitro hairy root system from petioles of detached soybean leaves allows the functional validation of genes using classical transgenesis and CRISPR strategies (e.g., sgRNA validation, gene activation) associated with nematode bioassays. Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated root transformation has been widely used in soybean for the functional validation of target genes in classical transgenesis and single-guide RNA (sgRNA) in CRISPR-based technologies. Initial data showed that in vitro hairy root induction from soybean cotyledons and hypocotyls were not the most suitable strategies for simultaneous performing genetic studies and nematode bioassays. Therefore, an ex vitro hairy root system was developed for in planta screening of target molecules during soybean parasitism by root-knot nematodes (RKNs). Applying this method, hairy roots were successfully induced by A. rhizogenes from petioles of detached soybean leaves. The soybean GmPR10 and GmGST genes were then constitutively overexpressed in both soybean hairy roots and tobacco plants, showing a reduction in the number of Meloidogyne incognita-induced galls of up to 41% and 39%, respectively. In addition, this system was evaluated for upregulation of the endogenous GmExpA and GmExpLB genes by CRISPR/dCas9, showing high levels of gene activation and reductions in gall number of up to 58.7% and 67.4%, respectively. Furthermore, morphological and histological analyses of the galls were successfully performed. These collective data validate the ex vitro hairy root system for screening target genes, using classical overexpression and CRISPR approaches, directly in soybean in a simple manner and associated with nematode bioassays. This system can also be used in other root pathosystems for analyses of gene function and studies of parasite interactions with plants, as well as for other purposes such as studies of root biology and promoter characterization.

How agricultural land use affects the abundance and prevalence of monoxenous and heteroxenous helminths in the generalist lizard Tropidurus hispidus.

Among the forms of anthropogenic disturbance, agricultural land use is one of the main threats to biodiversity. Understanding how interactions between parasites and hosts are affected by agricultural land use allows predictions of how these anthropogenic impacts affect parasites. Although parasitism patterns are affected by agricultural land use, it is noteworthy that different groups of parasites can respond differently to these environmental alterations. While heteroxenous species need more than one host to complete their life cycle and tend to be more harmed by anthropization, monoxenous species, which need only one host to complete their life cycle, tend to be less harmed. In this work, we evaluate how agricultural land use affects the abundance and prevalence of parasitism for monoxenous and heteroxenous helminths in the generalist lizard Tropidurus hispidus in Caatinga Domain, Brazil. We recorded differences in abundance and prevalence of heteroxeneous (higher in conserved areas) and monoxenous helminths (higher in agricultural areas). Heteroxenous helminths that have lizards as definitive hosts are mainly obtained through diet. Tropidurus hispidus predominantly consumes insects, so it is possible that the lower abundance and prevalence of heteroxenous parasites in agricultural areas, beyond habitat simplification, is related to the decrease in the insect population. As monoxenous species do not need an intermediate host, it is possible that this aspect has influenced their greater success in anthropogenic environments than heteroxenous species. This contrasting result reinforces the need for a separate assessment between these groups when evaluating effects of land use.

A novel soybean hairy root system for gene functional validation.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation has long been explored as a versatile and reliable method for gene function validation in many plant species, including soybean (Glycine max). Likewise, detached-leaf assays have been widely used for rapid and mass screening of soybean genotypes for disease resistance. The present study combines these two methods to establish an efficient and practical system to generate transgenic soybean hairy roots from detached leaves and their subsequent culture under ex vitro conditions. We demonstrated that hairy roots derived from leaves of two (tropical and temperate) soybean cultivars could be successfully infected by economically important species of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica). The established detached-leaf method was further explored for functional validation of two candidate genes encoding for cell wall modifying proteins (CWMPs) to promote resistance against M. incognita through distinct biotechnological strategies: the overexpression of a wild Arachis α-expansin transgene (AdEXPA24) and the dsRNA-mediated silencing of an endogenous soybean polygalacturonase gene (GmPG). AdEXPA24 overexpression in hairy roots of RKN-susceptible soybean cultivar significantly reduced nematode infection by approximately 47%, whereas GmPG downregulation caused an average decrease of 37%. This novel system of hairy root induction from detached leaves showed to be an efficient, practical, fast, and low-cost method suitable for high throughput in root analysis of candidate genes in soybean.

Epidemiology of Psoriasis in Portugal: A Population-Based Study.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and inflammatory skin disorder with a high personal, social and economic burden and important implications for healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to provide an epidemiological characterization of individuals with psoriasis in Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A large observational, cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey study developed by the Portuguese Psoriasis Group of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology (GPP-SPDV). A structured questionnaire was designed and applied by experienced interviewers to a random, representative sample of Portuguese individuals with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. Patients were considered to have psoriasis if they replied positively to one of the following questions: "Does any physician have ever diagnosed you with psoriasis?" or "Do you have a skin disorder characterized by scaling, reddish skin lesions located in the elbows/knees/scalp?". RESULTS: A total of 6381 individuals were interviewed, of which 283 met the criteria for psoriasis, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 4.4% (95% CI 3.95 - 4.98). Out of the participants that met psoriasis criteria, 24% had suggestive signs/symptoms but did not have a clinical diagnosis established and were not being monitored by a physician. Although more than 70% of participants had active disease (scaling, erythema, or pruritus) and one third had joint symptoms, only 12% were on systemic treatment. Fifty percent of participants with psoriasis (n = 139) had relevant comorbidities (most frequently depression/anxiety and cardiometabolic diseases). Sixteen percent of participants with psoriasis (n = 46) reported that psoriasis interfered with their daily activities (median impact of 5 in a 0 - 10 scale) and 12% mentioned the disease had an impact in their sexual life (median impact of 5 in a 0 - 10 scale). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the prevalence rate of psoriasis is likely to be high in Portugal, and several gaps exist at different levels of healthcare delivery to these patients, from diagnosis to treatment. This study provides important data for the future planning of interventions targeting the improvement of psoriasis care in Portugal.

Engineering Resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Using a Truncated NLR (TNx) and a Defense-Priming Gene.

The association of both cell-surface PRRs (Pattern Recognition Receptors) and intracellular receptor NLRs (Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat) in engineered plants have the potential to activate strong defenses against a broad range of pathogens. Here, we describe the identification, characterization, and in planta functional analysis of a novel truncated NLR (TNx) gene from the wild species Arachis stenosperma (AsTIR19), with a protein structure lacking the C-terminal LRR (Leucine Rich Repeat) domain involved in pathogen perception. Overexpression of AsTIR19 in tobacco plants led to a significant reduction in infection caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with a further reduction in pyramid lines containing an expansin-like B gene (AdEXLB8) potentially involved in defense priming. Transcription analysis of tobacco transgenic lines revealed induction of hormone defense pathways (SA; JA-ET) and PRs (Pathogenesis-Related proteins) production. The strong upregulation of the respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RbohD) gene in the pyramid lines suggests its central role in mediating immune responses in plants co-expressing the two transgenes, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production enhanced by AdEXLB8 cues leading to stronger defense response. Here, we demonstrate that the association of potential priming elicitors and truncated NLRs can produce a synergistic effect on fungal resistance, constituting a promising strategy for improved, non-specific resistance to plant pathogens.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibition-An emerging therapeutic strategy in immune-mediated dermatological conditions.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a member of the Tec kinase family, is critically involved in a range of immunological pathways. The clinical application of BTK inhibitors for B-cell malignancies has proven successful, and there is strong rationale for the potential benefits of BTK inhibitors in some autoimmune and allergic conditions, including immune-mediated dermatological diseases. However, the established risk-to-benefit profile of "first-generation" BTK inhibitors cannot be extrapolated to these emerging, non-oncological, indications. "Next-generation" BTK inhibitors such as remibrutinib and fenebrutinib entered clinical development for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); rilzabrutinib and tirabrutinib are being studied as potential treatments for pemphigus. Promising data from early-phase clinical trials in CSU suggest potential for these agents to achieve strong pathway inhibition, which may translate into measurable clinical benefits, as well as other effects such as the disruption of autoantibody production. BTK inhibitors may help to overcome some of the shortcomings of monoclonal antibody treatments for immune-mediated dermatological conditions such as CSU, pemphigus, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, the use of BTK inhibitors may improve understanding of the pathophysiological roles of mast cells, basophils, and B cells in such conditions.

Transcriptome Responses of Wild Arachis to UV-C Exposure Reveal Genes Involved in General Plant Defense and Priming.

Stress priming is an important strategy for enhancing plant defense capacity to deal with environmental challenges and involves reprogrammed transcriptional responses. Although ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is a widely adopted approach to elicit stress memory and tolerance in plants, the molecular mechanisms underlying UV-mediated plant priming tolerance are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the changes in the global transcriptome profile of wild Arachis stenosperma leaves in response to UV-C exposure. A total of 5751 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with the majority associated with cell signaling, protein dynamics, hormonal and transcriptional regulation, and secondary metabolic pathways. The expression profiles of DEGs known as indicators of priming state, such as transcription factors, transcriptional regulators and protein kinases, were further characterized. A meta-analysis, followed by qRT-PCR validation, identified 18 metaDEGs as being commonly regulated in response to UV and other primary stresses. These genes are involved in secondary metabolism, basal immunity, cell wall structure and integrity, and may constitute important players in the general defense processes and establishment of a priming state in A. stenosperma. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of transcriptional dynamics involved in wild Arachis adaptation to stressful conditions of their natural habitats.

Morbidade neonatal near miss em um serviço de perinatologia / Morbilidad de near miss neonatal en un servicio de perinatología / Near miss neonatal morbidity in a perinatology service

OBJETIVO: identificar os casos de morbidade neonatal near miss em um serviço de Perinatologia do estado do Maranhão. MÉTODO: pesquisa descritiva e transversal de abordagem quantitativa, realizada a partir da análise dos dados de recém-nascidos internados na Unidade Neonatal de um Serviço de Perinatologia no período de 2017 a 2018. As análises estatísticas foram processadas no programa estatístico STATA versão 14.0. RESULTADOS: o peso ao nascer <1500g foi a variável que mais classificou casos de near miss neonatal, seguido pela variável de idade gestacional <34 semanas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram associação entre hipertensão gestacional e peso ao nascer; hipertensão gestacional e idade gestacional ao nascer; parto cesáreo e Apgar no 5o minuto ≥ 7; parto cesáreo e sexo masculino. CONCLUSÃO: observou-se a importância da abordagem near miss neonatal para a compreensão ampliada da morbimortalidade neonatal e fatores associados.(AU)

OBJECTIVE: to identify cases of neonatal near miss morbidity in a Perinatology service in the state of Maranhão. METHOD: descriptive and cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach, based on the analysis of data from newborns admitted to the Neonatal Unit of a Perinatology Service from 2017 to 2018. Statistical analyzes were processed in the statistical program STATA version 14.0. RESULTS: birth weight <1500g was the variable that most classified cases of neonatal near miss, followed by the variable of gestational age <34 weeks. The results obtained demonstrated an association between gestational hypertension and birth weight; gestational hypertension and gestational age at birth; cesarean delivery and Apgar at the 5th minute ≥ 7; Cesarean delivery and male. CONCLUSION: the importance of the neonatal near miss approach for a broader understanding of neonatal morbidity and mortality and associated factors was observed.(AU)

OBJETIVO: identificar casos de morbilidad neonatal near miss en un servicio de Perinatología en el estado de Maranhão. MÉTODO: investigación descriptiva y transversal con enfoque cuantitativo, basada en el análisis de datos de recién nacidos ingresados en la Unidad Neonatal de un Servicio de Perinatología de 2017 a 2018. La estadística se procesó en el programa estadístico STATA versión 14.0. RESULTADOS: el peso al nacer <1500g fue la variable que más clasificó los casos de cuasi-miss neonatal, seguida de la variable edad gestacional <34 semanas. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron una asociación entre la hipertensión gestacional y el peso al nacer; hipertensión gestacional y actos gestacionales al nacer; parto por cesárea y Apgar al quinto minuto ≥ 7; Parto por cesárea y masculino. CONCLUSIÓN: Se observó la importancia del enfoque de cuasi accidente neonatal para una comprensión más amplia de la morbilidad y mortalidad neonatal y los factores asociados.(AU)

Ectopic expression of an expansin-like B gene from wild Arachis enhances tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses.

Plant expansins are structural cell wall-loosening proteins implicated in several developmental processes and responses to environmental constraints and pathogen infection. To date, there is limited information about the biological function of expansins-like B (EXLBs), one of the smallest and less-studied subfamilies of plant expansins. In the present study, we conducted a functional analysis of the wild Arachis AdEXLB8 gene in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants to clarify its putative role in mediating defense responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. First, its cell wall localization was confirmed in plants expressing an AdEXLB8:eGFP fusion protein, while nanomechanical assays indicated cell wall reorganization and reassembly due to AdEXLB8 overexpression without compromising the phenotype. We further demonstrated that AdEXLB8 increased tolerance not only to isolated abiotic (drought) and biotic (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Meloidogyne incognita) stresses but also to their combination. The jasmonate and abscisic acid signaling pathways were clearly favored in transgenic plants, showing an activated antioxidative defense system. In addition to modifications in the biomechanical properties of the cell wall, we propose that AdEXLB8 overexpression interferes with phytohormone dynamics leading to a defense primed state, which culminates in plant defense responses against isolated and combined abiotic and biotic stresses.

Defining the combined stress response in wild Arachis.

Nematodes and drought are major constraints in tropical agriculture and often occur simultaneously. Plant responses to these stresses are complex and require crosstalk between biotic and abiotic signaling pathways. In this study, we explored the transcriptome data of wild Arachis species subjected to drought (A-metaDEG) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria (B-metaDEG) via meta-analysis, to identify core-stress responsive genes to each individual and concurrent stresses in these species. Transcriptome analysis of a nematode/drought bioassay (cross-stress) showed that the set of stress responsive DEGs to concurrent stress is distinct from those resulting from overlapping A- and B-metaDEGs, indicating a specialized and unique response to combined stresses in wild Arachis. Whilst individual biotic and abiotic stresses elicit hormone-responsive genes, most notably in the jasmonic and abscisic acid pathways, combined stresses seem to trigger mainly the ethylene hormone pathway. The overexpression of a cross-stress tolerance candidate gene identified here, an endochitinase-encoding gene (AsECHI) from Arachis stenosperma, reduced up to 30% of M. incognita infection and increased post-drought recovery in Arabidopsis plants submitted to both stresses. The elucidation of the network of cross-stress responsive genes in Arachis contributes to better understanding the complex regulation of biotic and abiotic responses in plants facilitating more adequate crop breeding for combined stress tolerance.

Comparative Genomics Reveals Novel Target Genes towards Specific Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes.

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause extensive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. Chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes have largely been banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of cleaner and more specific control methods. Recent advances in nematode genomics, including in phytoparasitic species, provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify genes and functions specific to these pests. Using phylogenomics, we compared 61 nematode genomes, including 16 for plant-parasitic species and identified more than 24,000 protein families specific to these parasites. In the genome of Meloidogyne incognita, one of the most devastating plant parasites, we found ca. 10,000 proteins with orthologs restricted only to phytoparasitic species and no further homology in protein databases. Among these phytoparasite-specific proteins, ca. 1000 shared the same properties as known secreted effectors involved in essential parasitic functions. Of these, 68 were novel and showed strong expression during the endophytic phase of the nematode life cycle, based on both RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. Besides effector candidates, transcription-related and neuro-perception functions were enriched in phytoparasite-specific proteins, revealing interesting targets for nematode control methods. This phylogenomics analysis constitutes a unique resource for the further understanding of the genetic basis of nematode adaptation to phytoparasitism and for the development of more efficient control methods.

Characterization of raffinose metabolism genes uncovers a wild Arachis galactinol synthase conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) are implicated in plant regulatory mechanisms of abiotic stresses tolerance and, despite their antinutritional proprieties in grain legumes, little information is available about the enzymes involved in RFO metabolism in Fabaceae species. In the present study, the systematic survey of legume proteins belonging to five key enzymes involved in the metabolism of RFOs (galactinol synthase, raffinose synthase, stachyose synthase, alpha-galactosidase, and beta-fructofuranosidase) identified 28 coding-genes in Arachis duranensis and 31 in A. ipaënsis. Their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, protein domains, and chromosome distribution patterns were also determined. Based on the expression profiling of these genes under water deficit treatments, a galactinol synthase candidate gene (AdGolS3) was identified in A. duranensis. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AdGolS3 exhibited increased levels of raffinose and reduced stress symptoms under drought, osmotic, and salt stresses. Metabolite and expression profiling suggested that AdGolS3 overexpression was associated with fewer metabolic perturbations under drought stress, together with better protection against oxidative damage. Overall, this study enabled the identification of a promising GolS candidate gene for metabolic engineering of sugars to improve abiotic stress tolerance in crops, whilst also contributing to the understanding of RFO metabolism in legume species.

Presence of resveratrol in wild Arachis species adds new value to this overlooked genetic resource.

Genus Arachis comprises 82 species distributed into nine taxonomic sections. Most Arachis species are wild and those from Arachis section have been evaluated for many traits, since they can be used in peanut breeding. Most of the remaining species have been neglected and understudied. Recently, resveratrol content and expression of a resveratrol synthase gene were analyzed in wild Arachis species. Our aim was to expand the knowledge about resveratrol in Arachis, analyzing species from five sections and evaluating the expression of a resveratrol synthase (RS) gene responsive to ultraviolet light (UV) along the time. In a first experiment, the resveratrol content after UV induction was analyzed on detached leaves of 12 species from five sections. Variation was observed among species and accessions of the same species. The highest contents were found in A. lignosa (843.9 µg/g) and A. triseminata (745.4 µg/g). In a second experiment, RS expression and resveratrol content in four species and one synthetic amphidiploid were analyzed at 0, 7, 15 and 24 h pos induction (hpi) with UV. In most genotypes, the highest RS expression level was at 0 hpi, whereas the highest resveratrol content was at 15 hpi. Our results suggested that resveratrol is ubiquitously present in the genus Arachis with different capacities of synthesis among species and accessions in response to ultraviolet treatment. Presence of resveratrol in wild Arachis species adds new value to these genetic resources.

Evolutionarily conserved plant genes responsive to root-knot nematodes identified by comparative genomics.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, genus Meloidogyne) affect a large number of crops causing severe yield losses worldwide, more specifically in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Several plant species display high resistance levels to Meloidogyne, but a general view of the plant immune molecular responses underlying resistance to RKNs is still lacking. Combining comparative genomics with differential gene expression analysis may allow the identification of widely conserved plant genes involved in RKN resistance. To identify genes that are evolutionary conserved across plant species, we used OrthoFinder to compared the predicted proteome of 22 plant species, including important crops, spanning 214 Myr of plant evolution. Overall, we identified 35,238 protein orthogroups, of which 6,132 were evolutionarily conserved and universal to all the 22 plant species (PLAnts Common Orthogroups-PLACO). To identify host genes responsive to RKN infection, we analyzed the RNA-seq transcriptome data from RKN-resistant genotypes of a peanut wild relative (Arachis stenosperma), coffee (Coffea arabica L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) challenged by Meloidogyne spp. using EdgeR and DESeq tools, and we found 2,597 (O. glaberrima), 743 (C. arabica), 665 (A. stenosperma), and 653 (G. max) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the resistance response to the nematode. DEGs' classification into the previously characterized 35,238 protein orthogroups allowed identifying 17 orthogroups containing at least one DEG of each resistant Arachis, coffee, soybean, and rice genotype analyzed. Orthogroups contain 364 DEGs related to signaling, secondary metabolite production, cell wall-related functions, peptide transport, transcription regulation, and plant defense, thus revealing evolutionarily conserved RKN-responsive genes. Interestingly, the 17 DEGs-containing orthogroups (belonging to the PLACO) were also universal to the 22 plant species studied, suggesting that these core genes may be involved in ancestrally conserved immune responses triggered by RKN infection. The comparative genomic approach that we used here represents a promising predictive tool for the identification of other core plant defense-related genes of broad interest that are involved in different plant-pathogen interactions.

Proteomics unravels new candidate genes for Meloidogyne resistance in wild Arachis.

Arachis stenosperma is a wild peanut relative exclusive to South America that harbors high levels of resistance against several pathogens, including the peanut root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne arenaria. In this study, a proteomic survey of A. stenosperma-M. arenaria interaction using 2-DE and LC-MS/MS identified approximately 1400 proteins, out of which 222 were differentially abundant (DAPs) when RKN inoculated root samples were compared to the control. Most of these DAPs were assigned to functional categories related to plant responses to pathogens including stress, glycolysis, redox and tricarboxylic acid cycle. The comparison between the transcriptome (RNA-Seq) and proteome expression changes, showed that almost 55% of these DAPs encode genes with a similar expression trend to their protein counterparts. Most of these genes were induced during RKN infection and some were related to plant defense, such as MLP-like protein 34 (MLP34), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase 1 (CCR1), enolase (ENO), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). The overexpression of AsMLP34 in Agrobacterium rhizogenes transgenic roots in a susceptible peanut cultivar showed a reduction in the number of M. arenaria galls and egg masses, indicating that AsMLP34 is a promising candidate gene to be exploited in breeding programs for RKN control in peanut. SIGNIFICANCE: The use of an integrated approach to compare plant-nematode transcriptional and translational data enabled the identification of a new gene, AsMLP34, for Meloidogyne resistance.

Anurans of Sete Cidades National Park, Piauí state, northeastern Brazil / Anuros do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, estado do Piauí, nordeste do Brasil

The Sete Cidades National Park is located in the Brazilian municipalities of Piracuruca and Brasileira, Piauí state, in a transitional zone between the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. Studies on its herpetofauna were limited to anuran distribution notes and a snake checklist. Thus, here we present an unpublished species list of anurans from Sete Cidades National Park, Piauí state, northeastern Brazil. We recorded one of the two highest species richness for all northeastern National Parks, and also increased the geographic distribution of one species in the state of Piauí. Most species observed are common of both Caatinga and Cerrado biomes or have wide distribution in Brazil. The anuran assemblage of Sete Cidades National Park is more similar to those registered at the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão states, and Ubajara National Park, Ceará state. These results increase our knowledge on anuran diversity in northeastern Brazil, providing basic information for management and conservation actions of an important Brazilian National Park.

O Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades está localizado nos municípios de Piracuruca e Brasileira, Estado do Piauí, em uma zona de transição entre os biomas Caatinga e Cerrado. Os estudos sobre sua herpetofauna estão limitados a notas de distribuição de anfíbios e um inventário de serpentes. Portanto, aqui apresentamos uma lista inédita de espécies de anuros do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, Estado do Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil. Nós registramos uma das duas maiores riquezas de espécies dentre todos os Parques Nacionais do Nordeste, além de aumentar a distribuição geográfica de uma espécie para o estado. A maioria das espécies observadas são comuns em ambos os biomas da Caatinga e Cerrado ou têm ampla distribuição no Brasil. A assembleia de anuros do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades é mais similar àquela registrada na Área de Proteção Ambiental do Delta do Parnaíba, estados do Ceará, Piauí e Maranhão, e no Parque Nacional de Ubajara, estado do Ceará. Estes resultados aumentam nosso conhecimento sobre a diversidade de anuros no Nordeste do Brasil, fornecendo subsídios para ações de gestão e conservação de um importante Parque Nacional do Brasil.

Contrasting Effects of Wild Arachis Dehydrin Under Abiotic and Biotic Stresses.

Plant dehydrins (DNHs) belong to the LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) protein family and are involved in responses to multiple abiotic stresses. DHNs are classified into five subclasses according to the organization of three conserved motifs (K-; Y-; and S-segments). In the present study, the DHN protein family was characterized by molecular phylogeny, exon/intron organization, protein structure, and tissue-specificity expression in eight Fabaceae species. We identified 20 DHN genes, encompassing three (YnSKn, SKn, and Kn) subclasses sharing similar gene organization and protein structure. Two additional low conserved DHN Φ-segments specific to the legume SKn-type of proteins were also found. The in silico expression patterns of DHN genes in four legume species (Arachis duranensis, A. ipaënsis, Glycine max, and Medicago truncatula) revealed that their tissue-specific regulation is associated with the presence or absence of the Y-segment. Indeed, DHN genes containing a Y-segment are mainly expressed in seeds, whereas those without the Y-segment are ubiquitously expressed. Further qRT-PCR analysis revealed that, amongst stress responsive dehydrins, a SKn-type DHN gene from A. duranensis (AdDHN1) showed opposite response to biotic and abiotic stress with a positive regulation under water deficit and negative regulation upon nematode infection. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing (OE) AdDHN1 displayed improved tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses (freezing and drought) but increased susceptibility to the biotrophic root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita. This contradictory role of AdDHN1 in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses was further investigated by qRT-PCR analysis of transgenic plants using a set of stress-responsive genes involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways and suggested an involvement of DHN overexpression in these stress-signaling pathways.